Seattle Animal Shelter news and events

Archives for November 2011

SEATTLE — The Seattle Animal Shelter is overflowing with fabulous adult felines ready for adoption. Starting Nov. 30 and running through Sunday, Dec. 4, the shelter will waive adoption fees for all cats six months and older. You can add a cat to your family for just the cost of a two-year license — $27. The regular cost of the adoption package is $130-135.

“The holiday season is always a busy time at the animal shelter. We have seen many more cats surrendered in the last few weeks. We want to ensure these fabulous felines find homes for the holidays and beyond,” says Don Jordan, director of the Seattle Animal Shelter.

This special offer is made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation for the shelter to sponsor the adoptions of overlooked pets.

“We are so delighted to partner with the shelter and hope that our donation will help many, many animals find their forever homes,” commented Elizabeth Castleberry, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation president.

With this special offer, adopters pay only the cost of a two-year license. The rest of the adoption package includes:
• Initial vaccinations
• Deworming
• Feline Leukemia testing
• Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians
• Spay or neuter
• Microchip

The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W., approximately one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. The shelter is open Wednesday-Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. For more information, please call (206) 386- PETS (7387) or visit www.seattleanimalshelter.org.

• Dogs and cats can get frostbitten ears, noses and feet if left outside. Bring pets indoors during cold weather and take them out only when necessary.

• If your dog must remain outside for a period of time, provide an elevated dog house with clean, dry bedding and a flap over the opening to keep drafts out. The door should face away from the west or north to avoid cold winds. Consider installing a “doggie” door so your pet can seek protection from cold weather in your garage. Check water bowls to make sure they are not frozen and avoid using metal bowls as your pet’s tongue could stick to the frozen metal.

• Gently towel or blow-dry your dog or cat if he or she gets wet from rain or snow. It is important to dry and clean paws as well. This helps avoid tiny cuts and cracked pads. Remember that chemicals used to melt snow and ice on driveways and sidewalks can burn your pet, so check the paws, mouth and belly after a walk.

• Pets love the smell and taste of antifreeze and even a small amount can kill them. Clean up spills at once and be alert for antifreeze on the ground or left out in open containers that have not been properly stored or disposed of.

• Make sure your pet has a current Seattle pet license and always use a leash. When walking on snow, dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. A pet license is your best insurance your pet will be returned to you.

• Cats and kittens often nap on warm car engines and hoods. If your car was recently used, knock on the hood or honk the car horn before starting the engine.

• Help your elderly or arthritic pets when they need to go outside.

• Consider a sweater for short-coated breeds, such as Greyhounds and Chihuahuas, before taking them outside but choose wisely. Sweaters made from certain fibers don’t insulate when they get wet and can actually remove heat from an animal’s body. Avoid sweaters made of cotton. Wool and some synthetics provide insulation, even when wet.

• Do not leave your pet alone in a car. It gets too cold and can quickly become a freezer, causing hypothermia and possibly death.

• Be careful of fireplaces and portable heaters; keep fireplaces screened and heaters out of reach as a pet may chew the cord or knock it over and cause a fire.

• Like people, dogs and cats are more susceptible to illnesses in the winter. Take your pet to your veterinarian if symptoms occur.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is currently accepting applications for an Animal Control Officer 1 position working in our Animal Care unit. This position works directly with the animals in the shelter’s care and reports to the Animal Care Manager. For more information and to apply, click here

Small animals showcased for adoption at Shelter every third Saturday of the month

SEATTLE — The Seattle Animal Shelter continues showcasing “cool city pets” for adoption every third Saturday of the month, this month on Nov. 19. Between the hours of 1 and 3 p.m., potential adopters can get acquainted with the many small animals available for adoption from the shelter, located at 2061 15th Ave. W., about a mile south of the Ballard Bridge. Available small animals include hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice.

“The Seattle Animal Shelter isn’t just about cats and dogs anymore,” says Director Don Jordan. “Because of our tremendous success in adopting out cats and dogs, we are now entrusted with the lives of all animals when pet owners can no longer care for them. Adopting an animal from the Seattle Animal Shelter is the right thing to do.”

Volunteer small-animal specialists are on hand to help adopters find the right pet for them. They provide information about each animal’s characteristics and needs, demonstrate basic care and handling skills, and answer questions.

All ages are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. Animals may be adopted by adults only. Adopters must be prepared to provide proper housing, food, water, toys and other materials necessary for the good health of the animal. The adoption fee for small animals ranges from $5 to $25.

If you would like more information or directions, please call (206) 386-PETS(7387) or visit the shelter’s website at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org. The shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and for licensing.

The Seattle Animal Shelter reserves the right to approve or deny any animal adoptions and limits the number of small animal adoptions to no more than three per household.

SEATTLE — As part of its ongoing outreach efforts to find suitable permanent homes for foster animals, the Seattle Animal Shelter hosts a cat adoptathon on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, at the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center, 6535 Ravenna Ave. N.E. The event runs from noon to 3 p.m. and features numerous cats of different breeds.

“With our monthly neighborhood adoptathons, we hope to continue to spread the word about the joys and value of adopting shelter pets and saving lives. If you have room in your home and your heart for an orphaned animal, this is a great opportunity to come and see some of the wonderful pets available from our foster-care parents,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director.

Adoption prices range from $45 to $135 and include:

Initial vaccinations

Deworming

Feline Leukemia testing

Certificate for free health exam at local veterinarians

Spay or neuter

Microchip (About the size of a grain of rice, the microchip is injected under the cat’s skin, providing an identification number associated with that animal. Animal shelters can then “scan” a lost animal and retrieve its records from the microchip.)

To help reduce the number of animals euthanized, the Seattle Animal Shelter has a foster-care program to rehabilitate sick and immature dogs and cats. Donations from the city’s “Help the Animals Fund” pay for veterinary care for these animals while they are being fostered.

The Seattle Animal Shelter is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions and licensing. It is located at 2061 – 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206)386-PETS(7387). Animals available for adoption can be viewed online at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org